Jude's Story

Last fall, Jude Cunningham’s daily chores ended abruptly when he was seriously injured on the family farm.

The 13-year-old Paris youth suffered two broken bones above his right wrist when he was thrown from the calf he was riding. He was rushed to the Horizon Health emergency room and taken into surgery late that night.

“A rabbit jumped out and scared the calf,” said Clint Cunningham, Jude’s father. “When Jude stood up [after the fall], his right arm was actually [shaped like] an ‘S’. He had broken both bones in his right arm.”

Dr. Harish Kempegowda, orthopedic surgeon at Horizon Health, repaired Jude’s broken bones during a complex and lengthy procedure.

“What the doctor did was next level, legendary,” Clint said. “I remember him saying it was one of the worst breaks he had ever seen.”

Clint praised the Horizon Health team for their “amazing” care–from the initial emergency room visit to the surgery and physical therapy staff.

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“From start to finish, Horizon Health treated us like we were their family,” Clint said. “I really appreciated that level of care.”

Due to the severity of his injury, Jude’s recovery took four months. He is now back to his passion of fishing and weaning calves on the Paris farm.

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